Happy 2019!

The promise of a new year has many employees taking stock of their accomplishments and careers. For many, this will include setting goals – land a new job, move to a new city or take on new responsibilities in a current role.

This time of reflection is particularly important for younger professionals, who may be wondering, “What’s next for me? How can I move ahead? How can I design a career?”

As 2019 dawns, I’d like to offer a few resolutions for younger workers who are considering the question, “What will set me up for success at work in 2019 and beyond?”

Put yourself out there

Consider joining a young professionals group or meeting up with like-minded peers. By connecting with others, you can exchange ideas and learn about opportunities for career growth in your community. 

Learn something new

Take the opportunity to pick up new skills. There are plenty of seminars, continuing-education classes and lectures offered online and in your community to fill gaps in your knowledge. Reach out to your alumni network to see if your alma mater or local university offers classes you can audit for a fee, or take advantage of your employer’s tuition-assistance program and take classes toward an advanced degree. 

Become an expert on your employer

Familiarize yourself with your organization’s mission, vision and goals, and you will become a stronger employee. Challenge yourself to learn more about your company by exploring a new product or service it offers. Meet colleagues from other departments, read the annual report, attend an annual meeting and follow news coverage of your company. 

Don’t be afraid to fail

You’ve heard the saying “No pain, no gain.” Be willing to take some risks in your career. Without stretching yourself, you will never fully succeed.

Be patient 

Having aspirations is important. But keep in mind that success doesn’t happen overnight. You will need to work at it. Expose yourself to new people, places and things to find it.

Become financially savvy

Connect with your human resources department to learn more about how you can take advantage of the benefits offered by your company. You can save money and prepare for retirement (it’s never too early to start saving) by taking advantage of benefits such as commuter assistance, 401(k) company match and health/wellness rewards. Your HR department can also show you how to contribute to your savings each pay period. Direct deposit makes it easy to designate set amounts of your paycheck to different accounts, including savings, so you can easily set it, forget it and watch your savings grow. 

Refresh your online presence

It’s time to look over your online profiles to ensure they align with your professional aspirations. Review them with a critical eye and remove anything that you wouldn’t want your current or future employers to see. Consider buying a personal domain and creating a professional portfolio to document your experiences and successes.

Give yourself a break

Taking time now to schedule a vacation for later in the year gives you something to look forward to. Taking time off is important because it helps avoid burnout. Healthy employees use their in-office time more effectively and are more productive. 

Finally, resolve to commit to your goal

Whether your goal for 2019 involves learning something new, taking on a new project or asking for a promotion, do the work required to make it happen. Ninety-two percent of people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions. Don’t be one of them.